Why you should read it: It's America's Test Kitchen's first cake cookbook and a wonderfully comprehensive collection (it even includes cheesecakes, cake pops, and cakes you microwave in mugs). There are also tips about getting started and core cake-baking techniques.

What it is: an updated edition of a beloved knitting reference with over 1600 color images, step-by-step illustrations, and totally new sections that address designing sweaters, shawls, and accessories.

Why you should read it: Delicious recipes plus stories from Naomi Duguid's travels as well as compelling photographs, facts about the five countries she visited, and an annotated bibliography make this book a James Beard winner in the International category.

What it is: a collection of freezer-friendly and make-ahead dishes that are both easy to make and good for you (which helped it win the James Beard Award in Health); storing and reheating instructions are included as needed for each recipe.